Category: Daily Monitor

‘The current situation where one teacher handles up to 100 students forces teachers to work extra hours, including weekends, where some get exhausted.’

Those are the sentiments of Mr Joel Muwanguzi, an English teacher at Seeta High School, who exemplifies the struggle to manage the large class sizes under the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC). He reveals that one teacher struggles to handle about 100 learners in a lesson. Instead, Mr Muwanguzi emphasises that the ideal teacher-to-student ratio should not exceed 35 learners per teacher.

Charles Bwire, also a teacher in Mukono, says they teach the CBC from senior one to senior two, in most cases. However, after senior three, the teachers start to consider the strength of the students’ grades and abandon the curriculum. ‘Most of the talking stops at senior three first term, and we revert to our old system because we need good grades, to ensure the learners pass their O-levels,’ he says.

Summary Writing

One of the areas of learning that is hard under CBC is Summary Writing is also a challenge; we are asking ourselves how this can be made competence-based. Christine Gwokyalya, head of the English Department at Seeta High School, says that although the new curriculum is more engaging and practical, time limitations and performance expectations make full implementation difficult. ‘When we reach the Senior Four class, we tend to shy away from the new curriculum and go back to the old methods because of the pressure for good results,’ she explained. She explains that it is too demanding, no enough time, and there is also lack of provision of enough textbooks, leading to gaps in the curriculum.

Emily Namale, an English and Literature teacher at Namilyango Secondary School, says teachers are sometimes forced to revert to elements of the old curriculum due to a lack of clear guidance on CBC-aligned assessments. ‘It becomes difficult to assess learners effectively when the guidelines are unclear or delayed,’ she says, adding that large class sizes make it hard to evaluate individual competencies such as reading, writing, and listening skills.

The three teachers explain they they face even greater pressure from school administrators and parents to deliver high grades, often at the expense of competence-based learning. They add that this disparity undermines the effectiveness of the curriculum nationwide.

French language

Brian Mayanja, a French language teacher at St Balikuddembe SSS, Kisoga in Mukono, says the number of students taking on the subject is in decline.

With French being optional, many learners drop it by Senior Three, forcing teachers to adopt creative strategies to retain interest. He also says time affects languages and ICT integration as well as marketing. ‘You have to market and make the language interesting and lively to keep learners engaged,’ he notes.

Limited grammar

Some teachers say there is limited emphasis on grammar in the CBC framework. They argue that without a strong foundation in grammar, learners struggle to communicate well.

‘Grammar is core. If a learner lacks it, they cannot construct meaningful sentences,’ one of the teachers says. They are calling on curriculum developers to revisit the framework and ensure grammar is adequately integrated. While some schools have access to computers and digital tools, others lack basic ICT infrastructure, creating inequality in implementation. The lessons came out during a dissemination workshop for building teacher capacity for innovative foreign language instruction in English and French under the CBC, funded by the government through Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund. Since 2020, Uganda has been using the Competence-Based Curriculum to give children real-life skills.

Early this year, the Minister of Education and Sports, Ms Janet Museveni, underscored the government directive to shift to the competency-based education model. The minister urged Makerere University to lead in Curriculum reform, staff training, and infrastructure development to ensure graduates are equipped with practical skills, innovation, and problem-solving abilities.

President Museveni last week ordered three senior officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Uganda Police Force on forced leave over a widening Shs31 billion CCTV bribery scandal that has since threatened to expose deep-rooted corruption at the heart of one of the country’s most sensitive national security projects.

The directive, delivered through a sharply worded presidential letter, signalled not only a dramatic escalation in the government’s anti-corruption posture but also growing alarm within the State House over allegations that powerful officials turned a flagship crime-fighting initiative into a marketplace for extortion and kickbacks.

The officials affected include Lt Gen Joseph Musanyufu, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Internal Affairs; Mr Aggrey Wunyi, the undersecretary of the Police Force; and Assistant Inspector General of Police Felix Baryamwitsakyi.

Their six-month forced leave is intended to pave the way for investigations into claims that officials within the ministry and police demanded bribes from a local technology contractor in exchange for payment linked to the maintenance of the National CCTV and Command Centre system.

At the centre of the scandal is Dealan Associates Ltd, a Ugandan-owned company reportedly contracted to maintain the country’s sprawling CCTV surveillance infrastructure, one of Mr Museveni’s most prized security investments following a wave of high-profile assassinations and urban crime incidents in recent years.

In the President’s letter, the company allegedly completed its work but was denied payment after refusing to yield to demands for kickbacks allegedly channelled through middlemen connected to ministry and police officials.

The revelations have cast fresh scrutiny on Uganda’s expensive surveillance programme, a project repeatedly defended by the government as critical to combating terrorism, violent crime, and organised criminal networks.

Instead, the scandal now threatens to reinforce long-standing public perceptions that corruption remains deeply entrenched within the country’s security institutions despite repeated presidential warnings and anti-corruption campaigns.

Over the years, the Uganda Police Force has consistently ranked among the country’s most corruption-prone public institutions in national integrity surveys, with President Museveni himself publicly rebuking officers over bribery and abuse of office.

What makes the latest development particularly striking is the President’s unusually direct intervention.

By ordering senior technocrats and security officials aside before formal prosecution or disciplinary hearings, Mr Museveni appears keen to project decisiveness and reclaim control over a scandal that risks embarrassing his administration and undermining public trust in State security projects funded by billions of taxpayer shillings.

Yet the forced leave order also raises difficult questions about accountability, procurement transparency, and the hidden power networks that continue to thrive within our country’s sprawling security bureaucracy.

SACCOs serve as a vital link to financial inclusion for individuals at the lower end of the economic spectrum, particularly in rural Uganda where many people are unbanked. However, these Savings and Credit Cooperatives have historically faced criticism for their rudimentary operations, which have hindered their growth.

The advent of new technological tools has enabled these institutions to reach more people and expand their services. This transformation is largely driven by the widespread availability of mobile phones and mobile money, which collectively represent 33.7 million accounts nationwide, valued at $167.3 billion as of 2025.

In Uganda, financial inclusion is central to the country’s development, with fintech companies playing a significant role in this progress. In the Kigezi region, this gap is being bridged by the Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs), which are community-led initiatives aimed at empowering local residents financially. The number of SACCOs in Uganda has surged to over 31,800, up from just 5,798 in 2015, highlighting their rapid expansion both in rural and urban areas.

‘I can see a few groups have embraced this technology. However, when they are doing the savings, some records are not entered correctly, especially when using phones. Some groups are hesitant to continue using phones or tablets because they have not mastered how to manage these records. This is particularly true for many Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) that are located deep in rural areas, where a significant number of people are illiterate,’ says Ms Rodias Kyasimire, a trainer for farmer organisations and VSLAs.

For years, the Nyabyumba Farmers SACCO relied on manual systems for managing loans, member savings, share records, and registrations, all recorded in physical books. This process was slow, prone to errors, and often left members frustrated. Moreover, transparency was limited, making it difficult for management to track performance across branches.

General manager, Nyabyumba Farmers Sacco in Kabale district Mr Ambrose Akankwasa, recalls the turning point: ‘As we grew, we saw the need to digitalise our operations. Since then, service delivery has improved tremendously. Transactions are faster, reports are accurate, and members are satisfied because they can now save and pay loans using mobile money.’

Digitisation encourages efficiency and transparency. He notes that digitalisation introduced instant SMS alerts for deposits, creating trust and accountability.

Managers can monitor staff activity across branches in real time, strengthening internal controls. ‘It’s not just a banking system; it’s a management tool,’ Akankwasa explains. ‘We can see what staff are doing throughout the day.’

Growth in numbers

The impact has been dramatic. Within a single financial year, the savings portfolio grew from Shs200 million to Shs800 million, the loan portfolio expanded from Shs700 million to Shs2 billion, the share capital rose from Shs150 million to Shs495 million and membership nearly doubled, from 2,000 to 4,500.

Digital platforms have allowed members from distant areas, including Kampala, to join and transact without traveling.

‘Even farmers far away can deposit, withdraw, and check balances from their phones,’ Akankwasa says.

Overcoming resistance

He notes that at first, members and board members resisted the change, fearing fraud and balking at system charges. But once they experienced faster loan approvals, instant notifications, and reduced travel costs, attitudes shifted.

‘Technology has given members a true and fair view of their accounts. They are satisfied now,’ Akankwasa notes.

When it comes to costs Vs benefit, there, he notes thatwhile system procurement and subscription fees seemed burdensome initially, the Sacco quickly realized the benefits outweighed the costs. Mobile banking transactions generate commissions, turning the system into a revenue stream.

‘Last year, after covering all costs, we made a profit of over Shs10 million from the system,’ Akankwasa reveals.

Nyabyumba Farmers Sacco now sees digitalisation as the cornerstone of its success. With portfolio-at-risk reduced to 10.5 percent and a target of 5 percent by year’s end, the institution is confident in its trajectory. ‘Every day, we are refining our digital systems to minimize errors and maximize growth,’ Akankwasa says.

Nyabyumba Farmers Sacco’s backbone for growth. Mr Akankwasa says the shift to digital banking has not only transformed service delivery but also created new revenue streams. ‘On those SMS alerts, there is a commission we receive. So the system makes money for the institution,’ he explains.

Beyond revenue, digitalisation has cut costs. ‘If we needed 10 staff before, now we can operate with five. We save on labour and transportation because I can monitor branch activity remotely. The system is of merit, and Nyabyumba cannot operate without it,’ Akankwasa adds.

Challenges

The journey has not been without hurdles. Internet connectivity remains a challenge, especially in rural areas like Kabale. Resistance to change also slowed adoption, with members and board members initially fearing fraud or high costs. ‘At first, members saw system charges as burdensome. But once they experienced faster loan approvals, instant SMS alerts, and reduced travel costs, they embraced it,’ Akankwasa says.

Mandatory SMS notifications are covered by the Sacco, while optional alerts are paid for by members. ‘We are working to balance costs and benefits, but overall, digitalisation has given us a robust system. It is the cornerstone of our growth,’ he concludes.

For those at the bottom of the financial pyramid, savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) serve as their link to the financial system. However, the rural landscape of Kigezi presents challenges, with geographical distance cutting many individuals off from services. Technology is essential for bridging that gap.

To fully embrace financial technology, even the rural population must adapt to new methods, though this uptake has been slow. Nationally, smartphone penetration is still only 16%, which means many rural users rely on USSD-based services to access SACCO innovations.

Mr Emmanuel Nkurikiyimana, general manager of Chahi Dukore Sacco Ltd in Kisoro, states: ‘Some members are not informed about how to use these digital platforms. People may have money, but they often have a mentality of keeping their savings at home instead of depositing them.’

Mr Darius Bushande, branch manager of Rukiga Sacco in Rubanda, highlights the impact of digitisation on rural banking. Farmers now use ordinary mobile phones – not necessarily smartphones – to make deposits, withdrawals, and check account details conveniently from home. This has reduced travel costs and made services more accessible, even for those in remote areas.

The technology is simple, relying on USSD codes rather than internet access, making it easy for customers to adopt. Transaction costs are manageable, and the system has helped expand financial inclusion to both men and women, especially those deep in villages.

Currently, Rukiga Sacco has over 2,000 members, with about 10 percent actively using digital services. This translates to roughly 50 mobile money transactions per day. Since adopting digital systems, the Sacco has seen significant growth in profitability, earning around Shs3 million per month from transaction fees, revenue that did not exist before.

Digitisation has also improved loan access and repayment, making it easier for customers to borrow and settle obligations. Overall, Bushande notes that the system has boosted efficiency, expanded membership, and strengthened the Sacco’s financial performance.

Outlook

For upcoming cooperatives considering digitalisation, Akankwasa emphasizes the importance of setting priorities.

‘A system acts as a backbone. It is a management tool and an internal control system that provides a true and fair view of the institution. Manual processes are prone to errors and can lead to biased reports. No cooperative will grow if it does not embrace technology,’ he states.

Nyabyumba utiliss a cloud-based system that is compatible with ordinary phones and computers, making it accessible even to farmers using basic devices.

‘It is an investment, not a liability. It helps mobilise resources and generate income. Even affordable phones costing between Shs20,000 and Shs30,000 can access services through USSD codes,’ Akankwasa explains.

Digitisation will enable Saccos to function similarly to commercial banks within the next five years.

‘We are already performing like microfinance banks. Soon, members will be able to use ATMs at our facilities, apply for loans from home, and receive money instantly. This will reduce fraud and errors, leading to greater satisfaction for both staff and members,’ he adds.

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has commenced the disbursement of Shs2.8 billion under the long-awaited Shs80 billion national cattle restocking programme.

However, the intervention has faced immediate scrutiny, with critics and local leaders describing it as a “drop in the ocean” given the government’s decades-old unfulfilled compensation promises.

Out of 16,000 households targeted across the war-torn Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions, only 559 households have received funding in the initial phase. This leaves over 15,400 registered families still waiting, even as the government races against a tight June 30 deadline to exhaust the funds before the close of the 2025/2026 financial year.

Under the current implementation guidelines, each verified beneficiary household is entitled to Shs5 million-an amount the government estimates is equivalent to purchasing five head of cattle. The intervention aims to restore livelihoods in communities where decades of insurgency, Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel activity, and rampant Karimojong cattle rustling systematically wiped out the regions’ livestock economy.

For over two decades, President Museveni’s administration has promised full compensation and restocking for northern and eastern Uganda. Successive government programmes-including the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) and various court-ordered compensation pledges totaling over Shs2 trillion-have been marred by bureaucratic delays, corruption scandals, and inadequate budgetary allocations.

Local leaders note that while the Shs80 billion allocation appears substantial on paper, it pales in comparison to the actual volume of livestock lost between the 1980s and early 2000s, which is estimated in the millions.

Mr Horace Bashaija, the Assistant Commissioner for Northern Uganda at the OPM, acknowledged the vast deficit but defended the phased approach.

‘We carried out an independent assessment of the restocking programme. The findings show that we still need to continue, because the need is extensive across the three sub-regions. On funding, we may need to do this in a phased manner, depending on the availability of resources over the financial years,’ Mr Bashaija said.

He added that while Acholi, Lango, and Teso remain the primary focus due to their unique history of conflict-induced livestock depletion, other regions will remain excluded from the current phase.

In a departure from past restocking initiatives-which were heavily criticized for corruption, inflated procurement costs, and the supply of sick or low-quality breeds-the government has shifted to direct cash transfers.

Mr Alex Kakooza, the Permanent Secretary in the OPM, emphasized that this new model places the responsibility of purchasing livestock directly on the beneficiaries to foster ownership and stimulate local economies.

‘We are giving money to individuals, and these individuals will go and look for animals on their own. Government is not buying cattle for them,” Mr Kakooza stated.

Recognizing that the available Shs80 billion cannot cover all affected households, Mr Kakooza explained that strict verification metrics have been introduced to vet applicants. “Because this money is not enough, we prioritize the elderly, former abductees, female-headed households, and persons with disabilities,’ he added.

The programme is being implemented through Parish Development Committees (PDCs), which vet beneficiaries before uploading their profiles onto the Parish Development Management Information System (PDMIS)-a digital portal managed by the Ministry of ICT.

Data from the OPM indicates that 11,504 beneficiaries (71.9 percent of the target) have been successfully uploaded onto the system. However, payments are lagging due to technical bottlenecks and slow verification processes at the local government level.

Mr Kakooza issued a stern warning to district leaders, noting that unspent funds risk being returned to the Consolidated Fund if the exercise is not completed by the end of June. Districts cited as lagging behind in data submission include Lamwo, Nwoya, Pader, and Agago.

‘We must ensure timely verification and submission of beneficiary data. If funds are not spent within the required period, they risk being returned to the Treasury,’ the Permanent Secretary warned.

To expedite payments and minimize middlemen, the OPM has partnered with PearlBank Uganda to disburse funds directly to verified beneficiaries using the Wendi mobile wallet platform, allowing for direct transfers to mobile money and bank accounts.

Beyond the financial deficits, experts are raising concerns over the sustainability of the project. Past restocking phases suffered high animal mortality rates due to a lack of veterinary support.

To address this, Mr Bashaija noted that local governments will be required to provide technical oversight.

‘There are issues of extension workers coming in to support beneficiaries with skills transfer, how to care for the animals, watering, deworming, and vaccination, so that the animals remain productive,’ he concluded.

Feedback.Students defend school trips as educational and memorable experiences, though critics warn inflated costs risk excluding learners from valuable opportunities beyond classrooms.

I do not think school trips are overpriced. The money that students are charged to go on the trips is necessary for paying the access fee for the places that we visit. Schools do not profit much from these trips because the money is used to make preparations for the trips. These trips give us a chance to see the things we have been taught in class, so we connect the theoretical knowledge that we have learnt in class to a practical experience. Samantha Andrea Ksetita, S.1 Makerere College School

School trips are important because we get to practically experience what we have been taught. However, sometimes schools exaggerate the prices that students are required to pay for the trips and some students are left out of the experience as a result.

Allison Nakandi, S.2 Makerere College School

School trips may be expensive. However, they give students an opportunity to break the monotony of the school schedule and have fun as well as make life long memories. At the end of the day, the experience that we get is worth the money that we are asked to pay.

Jemimah Blessed, S.4 Makerere College School

I think school trips are generally fairly priced. It is important that schools integrate some school trips into the term because they are educative and they entertain students.

Aksam Kasule Jjingo, S.1 Makerere College School

Trips allow us to learn more outside of the school environment which is refreshing. They make learning more interesting. It is also easier to memorise something that you learned during a school trip because you will associate the concept you learned at the trip with the fun experience that you had.

Rebecca Kwagala, S.1 Makerere College School

School trips expose us to nice places and we get to learn from people who are actually involved in the day to day activities of the concepts that we learn about in class.

Fahad Jjuuko, S.2 Makerere College School

School trips help to improve students’ social skills and their life experience. Students get to learn while having an enjoyable experience. Sometimes the trips come at a high cost, however factors such as the duration of the trip and transportation costs are considered by the school, so the cost is often justified.

Aman Agaazi, S.1 Makerere College School

School trips help us to practically witness what we have learned in class and give us a break from the class room environment so they are important. The money we pay to go on school trips is fair and necessary because it enables schools to coordinate the trips.

Yorkabel Kaleab, S.1 Makerere College School

School trips enable us to learn more about our country. Looking at the places that schools usually visit, I think that the price of school trips is usually fair. If you google some of the places that schools usually take students, you will notice that if a person was to visit those places individually they would probably be charged at a higher cost than the price set by the schools.

Emmanuel Ssekwe, S.1 Mengo Senior School

As a student, I believe schools are often unrealistic with the costs of trips. While such excursions are meant to broaden our horizons, the financial burden they impose can be exclusionary. Many families struggle to meet basic educational expenses, so detached from the socio-economic realities students face. Schools should balance educational enrichment with affordability, ensuring that opportunities are accessible to all rather than reserved for the privileged few.

John Bush Bisaso, S6 Pope John Paul II High School, Nakaseke

School trips are important in learning process because they support practical learning.. that is to say that learners are able to see things outside and relate to what they learn in class..

Phoebe Amongin, S4 Priscilla Comp girls SS -Katakwi

Study trips are important because it aids memory and research. When students go for study trips, they can easily remember what they have learnt…

Irene Amoding, S4 Priscilla Comp girls SS -Katakwi

Study trips help to instill confidence and independence in students. When students go for study trips, they gain confidence and will be able to ask questions.

Janet Norah Ongaria, S4 Priscilla Comp girls SS -Katakwi

Study trips help students to gain research skills. When students go for trips, they gain research skills through asking questions.

Irene Akol S4 Priscilla comp girls SS -Katakwi

Study trips promotes creativity and innovation in the learners. Learners get skills from the places they have visited and apply in their daily life..

Norah Adite S4 Priscilla comp girls SS -Katakwi

I don’t support the idea of students going for study trips because they are a waste of resources. Students can learn everything they need using technology.

Elizabeth Ikwap S4 Priscilla comp girls SS -Katakwi

Study trips are a waste of time and are so expensive. Parents shoulder the burden of paying for the study trips.

Josephine Akiteng S4 Priscilla comp girls SS -Katakwii

Study trips enable learners to know the geographical area of a place. When students go out for trips, they are able to know new places.

Joseph Oupot S4 Priscilla comp girls SS -Katakwi

School trips help to improve students’ social skills and their life experience. Students get to learn while having an enjoyable experience. Sometimes the trips come at a high cost, however factors such as the duration of the trip and transportation costs are considered by the school, so the cost is often justified.

Aman Agaazi S1 Makerere College School

School trips help us to practically witness what we have learned in class and give us a break from the class room environment so they are important. The money we pay to go on school trips is fair and necessary because it enables schools to coordinate the trips. Yorkabel Kaleab S1 Makerere College School

Hundreds of residents in Maziba Sub-county, Kabale District, have expressed frustration over the government’s failure to extend electricity to communities surrounding the Muvumbe Hydropower Station, nearly a decade after the facility began generating power for Uganda’s national grid.

The 6.5-megawatt hydropower plant, constructed by Muvumbe Hydro (Uganda) Limited, began operations in March 2017 after construction started in 2015. Despite hosting the facility, many residents in the area remain without access to electricity.

Maziba Sub-county chairperson Onesmus Mutungye told Monitor that it was unacceptable that communities hosting the power station had remained in darkness for nine years.

“We appeal to the government to intervene in this matter because it is embarrassing to have such a big hydroelectric generating power station that does not provide electricity to all the villages, trading centres, community institutions such as churches, schools and health centres,” Mutungye said.

He added: “At the beginning of the project, we thought it would provide electricity to boost the development of cottage industries for value addition, but nine years later Maziba Sub-county has remained the way it was before the hydroelectric generating power station was established.”

Maziba comprises 65 villages and lies along Uganda’s border with Rwanda.

Mutungye said two government-supported agro-processing projects, a Shs400 million coffee processing factory and a Shs400 million pineapple processing plant, remain idle because they have never been connected to electricity.

He added that the area is a major producer of coffee, bananas and pineapples, but farmers continue to sell raw produce to middlemen due to the absence of value-addition facilities.

“Farmers are left with no option other than being exploited by middlemen and the youth have remained unemployed,” he remarked.

The senior Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) area manager for Kabale, Lovinsa Nshemerirwe, said the hydropower project was developed by an Independent Power Producer (IPP) whose role was limited to generating electricity for supply into the national grid.

“Muvumbe hydroelectric generation dam was constructed by an Independent Power Producer and it was not their mandate to provide power to the community members but rather to generate power and have it connected to the main electricity grid to boost electricity supply,” Nshemerirwe explained.

She advised residents to petition political leaders to lobby for rural electrification infrastructure.

“The complaining individuals should petition their area Member of Parliament and the district leadership to lobby the Rural Electrification Agency to construct electricity lines, and as UEDCL we shall connect them after they have applied for electricity connection in the area,” she said.

Ndorwa East MP Protazy Begumisa acknowledged the problem and pledged to engage the government to address the lack of electricity in the area.

“Lack of electricity in some parts of Ndorwa East constituency where Muvumbe hydroelectric power station is located is a real problem,” Begumisa said, adding: “Some areas do not have access to telecommunication networks because of lack of electricity and road network to hilltops where telecom masts can be constructed. I will try my level best to lobby the Office of the Prime Minister for support.”

The legislator said he would also use personal resources to support electricity extension in some villages.

“My approach for this term of office is to talk less and work for the people,” he added.

Located in Kigarama Village, Nyanja Parish, the Muvumbe Hydropower Station was licensed by the Electricity Regulatory Authority in 2014 to generate and sell power to the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited for integration into the national grid.

Residents say that ‘while the project has contributed to national electricity supply, its failure to benefit host communities has undermined local economic development and delayed efforts to establish agro-processing industries in one of Kabale’s key agricultural areas.’

The culture of male traditional circumcision among the Bagisu is one of the admired cultures worldwide, which the tribesmen believe is a way of promoting boys to men. The culture is full of rituals, performed from the stage of preparing the candidates to the last point of facing the surgeon, locally referred to as umushebi.

The activity involves removing the foreskin of the reproductive organs of the boys, who are usually between 14 to 18 years of age, every even year for more than 200 years ago according to historians and cultural enthusiasts.

The culture accompanied by the traditional dance, kadodi, is directly connected to nature and the current weather patterns, the reason negative effects of climate change are now affecting the way the rituals are performed. This year’s Imbalu (circumcision) launch is scheduled to take place on August 1. The Imbalu culture is practised among the Bagisu, a tribe settled at the slopes of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda, occupying the districts of Mbale, Manafa, Bududa, Namisindwa, Sironko and Bulambuli. Mr Yazid Masaba, an elder from Wanale clan in Mbale City, says climate change now poses a threat to the culture.

‘This may lead to abandoning of some of the precious rituals that define and beautify the Imbalu (circumcision), such as mudding, which is done in sacred swamps and wells,’ he says.

With the disappearance of some sacred swamps and drying up of wells, Mr Masaba says some components of the ritual are being abandoned. ‘In some circumstances, where drought has persisted in the months of August and December, some wells in most areas start drying and water is waited for as it comes from the ground. This is affecting our Imbalu rituals,’ he says. Each clan among the Bamasaba has a sacred swamp where the boys are taken to be smeared with mud on the last day before going to face the knife. In the rural areas, where the swamps are known, people are only allowed to cultivate or do any work from there during the year which is not for circumcision (odd year).

Mr Seth Muboolo, a resident of Bukonde Sub-county and a member of Butanga clan, says one risks his crops or any constructive work if he or she carries out work in the known sacred swamps during the circumcision year. ‘All these rituals require to be performed in places where natural water is stored, but climate change sometimes has brought changing weather patterns, which renders some rituals to go unperformed,’ he says. In this culture, boys are prepared and as a sign that one is ready to face the knife that fateful even year, the family prepares part of the millet that they use for brewing malwa, a traditional alcohol made from fermenting millet, maize or cassava.

The kadodi drummers, say without swamps, the making of the drums is also hard and in the long-run as swamps disappear within Bugisu Sub-region, it might affect the sound that has attracted a following from all over the world. Mr Wilson Wasukira, an elder from Sironko Town Council in Sironko District, also expressed concern over Mt Elgon losing green vegetation that harbours the Colobus monkeys, whose skins are used by Imbalu candidates. ‘Wildlife conservation is part of the key aspects for the Bamasaba culture to thrive in modernity as the candidates to be circumcised are decorated by skins of black and white Colobus monkeys and also their tails but soon we will lack those things,’ he says. Elders say traditional herbs, which were used for healing circumcision wounds are also disappearing and the locals are now using modern medicine.

Mr Joseph Weyusa, an elder from Mbale City, says circumcision is losing the economic benefit for candidates. ‘Today, Imbalu culture has changed due to religion and also modernity, with some parents believing that when a boy is circumcised culturally – through practices such as Kadodi dances and making malwa – he is no longer religious and is going astray,’ he says. Mr Moses Kutoyi, an elder and minister for culture and heritage in the cultural institution, says although climate change is affecting Imbalu, they will work hard to preserve it. Mr Kutoyi explains that during the circumcision year, cultural norms require families to observe peace – no divorce, no domestic violence and minimal quarrels.

‘Unity is essential because family members must work together in preparations such as cultivation, sowing millet and ensuring adequate food and birds for the circumcision ceremonies,’ he says. He emphasises that there are only two recognised Imbalu seasons in the region: August and December. ‘The August season is determined through a ritual involving a bird performed in July, which confirms the timing of circumcision. The December season mainly caters for school-going boys,’ he says.

Documentation of the Imbalu ceremony in Bugisu dates back to 1804, although it is believed that the practice began many centuries earlier. Registration of candidates for circumcision in the current season has already started. By April, the Bugisu Cultural Institution is expected to release the full list of candidates. In 2024, a total of 6,024 boys were circumcised across the Bugisu Sub-region. The Bugisu Cultural Institution believes that this number is likely to surpass the 2024 figure in the upcoming season.

Ugandan coach Benon Mugisha capped a remarkable season by guiding Rwanda Energy Group (REG) Volleyball Club to the 2026 Rwanda Volleyball League title after a dramatic 3-2 finals series victory over Police.

Mugisha’s road to the championship was built on resilience, tactical discipline and belief in his shorthanded squad.

Seen as the underdogs going into the finals, REG fashioned a comeback from a 2-0 hole in a five-game series to clinch the championship 3-2.

Back-to-back victories in Game Four and Five delivered the championship for a REG side that only got into the playoffs by winning their last regular season fixture against APR.

Having gone down 2-0, REG needed to be perfect to get back into the series and avoid a sweep.

And a 3-1 win in Game Three kept them alive, ensuring the series stretched to Game Four, and then a decisive Game Five.

With confidence restored, Mugisha’s side entered the decisive Game Five determined to complete the turnaround.

REG produced a composed display and swept Police aside in straight sets, taking the first 25-22, the second 25-14 and the third 25-to clinch the title.

Momentum shift

After two games of the series, there appeared to be one winner in the finals.

Police were cruising. REG could not find a response. Middle blocker Samuel Engwau was out nursing an injury.

A much-needed break came in the series as the two sides turned their attention to the CAVB Men’s Club Championship hosted in Kigali.

And as if to reemphasize the status quo in Rwanda, Police finished highest among the local teams, clinching silver after losing to giants Al Ahly in the final.

REG, meanwhile, defied odds again to win bronze and make it two medals for Rwanda in the competition.

Back to the league finals, nothing much had changed ate REG. Engwau was still unable to play from the start but was on the bench.

But Mugisha’s leadership stood out as he empowered the available options to get the job done.

Police started Game Three like a team facing elimination and cruised to the first two sets.

And despite losing the third, they still had enough in the tank to claim a 3-1 win and force Game Four.

Police reorganized themselves and started well in Game Four but REG came from two sets down to win the match 3-2 and force the series into a decisive Game Five.

Carrying the momentum into Game Five proved pivotal for Mugisha and his charges as Police struggled to get going in the winner-takes-it-all affair.

Led by former Sport-S star Thon Maker and eventual MVP Nicholas Matui, REG wiped the floor with Police in the decider.

Enhanced reputation

Mugisha took over a REG side that was struggling to rub shoulders with Rwanda’s best teams.

It was also a team in transition following a mass exodus of star players, including Ugandan international Gideon Angiro who crossed to Police.

Bringing in new talent meant patience would be needed. It was always going to take time for all the pieces to click.

But when they did, REG started asking questions of teams previously touted as favourites.

They locked APR out of the playoffs to take the final slot, defeated Kepler 3-0 in the semis before ensuring Police ended a second straight season with defeat in the finals.

It is the second time Mugisha is leading REG to league success. He was also part of the third title they won in 2023 but parted ways with the team midway through that campaign.

The title adds to an impressive year for the Ugandan tactician, who had already earned praise for leading REG to a continental bronze medal in Kigali.

For Mugisha, the triumph represented more than just another trophy. It was confirmation of his growing reputation as one of East Africa’s top volleyball coaches, capable of competing and succeeding at both domestic and continental level.

‘Winning the league means a lot to me and REG because it was like three years without winning it and we needed to put REG back where it belongs,’ Mugisha told Daily Monitor after Sunday’s celebrations.

He added: ‘The season has been the best so far in my career, winning Genocide Memorial Tournament, Kayumba Memorial and the league, then being number three in Africa. We really thank God for reaching this far, and the players for the maximum efforts they have put in.’

Since returning to the Rwandan side on a two-year contract, Mugisha has revitalized the team, combining tactical discipline, resilience, and strong leadership to get the team back to winning ways.

Little wonder that when the season’s Dream Team was named, REG had up to four players, with MVP Nicholas Matui, setter Crispin Ntanteteri, middle blocker Emmy Twagirayezu and outside hitter Merci Gisubizo all recognized.

Benon Mugisha

Accolades won this season

Rwanda Volleyball League, Genocide Memorial Tournament, Kayumba Memorial, Bronze at CAVB Men’s Club Championship

On April 2, at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre, Christopher Okello Onyum hacked to death four children. The infants were aged between one year and two years, three of whom were male and one was female.

Okello was subsequently found guilty of four counts of murder by the High Court in Kampala and sentenced to death [He has since appealed against the sentence]. During the trial, Okello did not deny killing the four children, but stated that he did not act intentionally or deliberately. He stated that although he had been examined and declared mentally sane, he had a mental illness that was undetected, which caused him to kill the children.

Once a defendant raises the issue of insanity, the prosecution has the burden of proving beyond reasonable doubt that the accused was sane when the act was being committed. In law, an accused person is excused from punishment if, as a result of mental illness, he did not know the nature and quality of his act, or if he did know it, he did not know that the act itself was wrong. In some cases, however, the accused is exempted from punishment only in cases of extreme insanity involving a total loss of understanding.

The rule of insanity has further given the ‘irresistible impulse’ test by the courts of law. Under this rule, the defendant is immune from the consequences of his criminal act if it is proved that he was compelled to do the act by an irresistible impulse. That is, if his reasoning powers were so far dethroned by his diseased mental condition as to deprive him of the willpower to resist the insane impulse to perpetrate the deed, though knowing it to be wrong, he is not criminally responsible.

The case of Okello bears some similarity to that of Richard Trenton Chase, who killed six people in a span of a month, from December 29, 1977, to January 27, 1978. Chase earned the nickname ‘The Vampire’ because he drank the blood of his victims and ate their internal organs.

On December 20, 1977, Chase shot a 51-year-old man twice in the chest as he was retrieving groceries from his car. On January 23, 1978, he again shot dead a 22-year-old woman as she came out of her home carrying some garbage, and he then savagely mutilated her body. Four days later, police were called to a home in which the whole family was discovered killed. The woman of the house, a 36-year-old, was shot three times and her internal organs removed. Her 52-year-old companion was also shot in the head, as was the woman’s six-year-old son. A 22-month-old baby, whom the woman was babysitting, was missing from a bloodstained crib. The baby was later discovered dead.

Okello and Chase had a history of mental illness, and both were admitted to psychiatric units at some time in their lives. That Okello and Chase had a mental disorder at some time in their lives was, therefore, not in doubt.

The second pointer to a crime of insanity is the lack of motive in the commission of the offences; Okello and Chase apparently picked their victims at random. In all six murders that Chase committed, he acted alone. In the four murders that Okello committed, there was no evidence that he had any accomplices.

Crimes of insanity are typically bizarre and ghostly. Police investigating these murders committed by Chase were horrified to discover that he was carrying fast-food containers stuffed with human body parts and blood when he was arrested. Okello slashed the necks of four infants in the most bizarre and ghostly manner. Both killers made no attempts to hide the evidence of their crimes.

A crime in law consists of the mental aspect as well as the actual conduct. These two elements are derived from the Latin maxim actus non facit reum nisi mens rea, which, translated, means a person does not incur liability for a crime by virtue of an act unless he or she has, as well, a guilty mind. Mens rea refers to the state of mind, while actus reus is the act itself. Mentally ill persons may, however, experience a temporary period of resolution of the illness and during such a period, the patient may be held criminally liable if in conflict with the law.

In Uganda, the Penal Code Act states that a person is not criminally responsible if, at the time of the act, they are suffering from a disease of the mind that renders them incapable of understanding what they were doing or knowing that it was wrong. This principle reflects one of the foundations of criminal law, that liability requires both the act itself (actus reus) and the guilty mind (mens rea). Without intent, punishment loses its moral justification.

The cause of most of the mental disorders may not be pinpointed or remains unknown. However, a number of these illnesses have been associated with drugs such as cannabis, alcohol and cocaine. Stress conditions such as sudden bereavement or financial loss, may also trigger mental illness. Failure of the maturation of the brain may result in mental disorders that have their onset during infancy or childhood.

Psychopathy or psychopathic personality is a recently recognised mental disorder and is characterised by impaired empathy and remorse, persistent antisocial behaviour, along with bold, disinhibited and egocentric traits. It is now classified as an antisocial or dissocial personality disorder.

For a long time, the psychopath was thought to be or was considered an essentially normal individual who had deep-rooted abnormalities of personality, as a result of which he or she was unable to conform to conventional standards of behaviour. What was also known was that this personality disorder was often associated with criminal behaviour, without accompanying feelings of guilt or remorse.

The psychopath has an inclination to violence and psychological manipulation, impulsivity and narcissism. These traits are often masked by superficial charm and immunity to stress, which create an outward appearance of normality.

Causes of the psychopathic personality include genetic factors or experiencing neglect or maltreatment. Risk factors associated with the disorder include family history and adverse environmental stressors.

In the last four years, Uganda’s housing deficit has averaged around or over two million units, a figure that has barely budged, even as the population grows by more than a million people annually.

It is not that nobody is building. Drive through Naguru, Kololo, or Nakasero, the emerging elite areas, on any given morning, and the cranes are hard to miss.

But the homes popping up are rarely for the 80 percent of Ugandans economists call lower- and middle-income earners, which is to say, most people.

We examine the demand side: why those who need homes most cannot access the financing to get one, and what is beginning to change.

The second will tackle the supply side: why developers are not building enough for them, and what it would take to make them.

The arithmetic of exclusion

Uganda’s median urban worker earns between Shs220,000 and Shs230,000 a month. Rural incomes are lower still, at around Shs168,000.

To house someone at that level, the National Planning Authority estimates a home would need to cost between Shs14m and Shs24m. Nobody is building there.

What the market calls ‘affordable housing’ starts at around Shs90m and stretches to Shs350m and beyond, a label that, as the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Deputy Managing Director Gerald Kasaato says, is ‘always going to be a very, very difficult thing to achieve against those kinds of numbers.’

Bridging that gap, therefore, requires a functioning mortgage market, patient capital, and a government willing to act on policy levers it has long left untouched.

Mortgages require payslips, documented salaries, and formal credit histories, things that most Ugandans have none of. Of 9.3 million workers, only about one million qualify for mainstream lending because their income is known monthly.

Broll Managing Director Moses Lutalo describes a mortgage market that is ‘almost comically thin.’

‘Fewer than 40,000 mortgages exist in a country of over 50 million people. Mortgage debt accounts for less than 1 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), compared to 65 percent in Britain, numbers that mirror much of sub-Saharan Africa,’ he says.

The price of borrowing

For the minority who qualify for a mortgage, the terms are punishing. Rates sit at between 16 and 18 percent per annum, roughly double the single-digit threshold at which housing finance specialists consider mortgages genuinely affordable.

Uganda Bankers Association Executive Director Wilbroad Owor blames this on the absence of patient capital.

‘Commercial banks are short-term funded institutions. The mismatch between the short-term deposits they hold and the long-term loans housing requires is inherently costly, and that cost is passed directly to borrowers,’ he says.

It is a structural problem that even Uganda’s largest institutional investor cannot easily solve alone.

NSSF manages assets worth over Shs26 trillion and holds what the industry calls patient capital, yet its real estate portfolio manager Matthew Rukaari is measured in his optimism: ‘We fully recognise that it’s difficult.’

The Mortgage Refinancing Act

The Mortgage Refinancing Act, signed in February and now awaiting a regulatory framework, is designed to fix the structural mismatch that hobbles both banks and the pension scheme approach.

The logic is that mortgage refinancing companies, regulated by Bank of Uganda, would sit between commercial banks and long-term capital markets.

Instead of a bank funding a 20-year mortgage out of short-term deposits, the refinancing company steps in with long-term capital, absorbs a portion of the default risk, and allows banks to price mortgages more competitively.

‘Banks will sell that mortgage to the refinance company. The refinance company can wait much longer. Initial capital would come from government, supplemented by concessional finance from institutions like the World Bank and the African Development Bank,’ Owor explains.

It is a model Kenya has used to develop its mortgage market. Lutalo argues that cheaper credit would send a signal to developers that real customers, with real financing behind them, are waiting at the affordable end of the market, a signal that has been absent until now.

But Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA)’s investment and risk analyst Eric Mugisha cautions that you ‘might have all these refinancing entities, but you will find that the capacity is restricted to a few. It may not be helping the low-income earners.’

His concern is that without deliberate design choices about who the institution is meant to serve, the benefits will again flow to borrowers who are already close to bankable, leaving the majority behind.

Owor is measured but less pessimistic, pointing to Bank of Uganda’s involvement as a sound foundation.

The caveat, he acknowledges, is that the Mortgage Refinancing Act is still just an Act. The regulations that would create and capitalise the actual refinancing institutions have not yet been gazetted.

A failed experiment

Before the Mortgage Refinancing Act, Uganda tried something else. Regulations under URBRA allowed pension scheme members to use up to half of their accrued benefits as collateral for a home loan.

Its logic was rational, but it barely moved the needle in practice. Mugisha explains that the 50 percent rule meant a member could pledge whichever was lower: half their accrued benefits, or the property’s market value. The problem was the underlying numbers.

‘The biggest portion of members have money that is less than Shs10m,’ Mugisha notes, adding that: ‘Against a market where the average house costs upwards of Shs250m, someone would need benefits worth at least Shs500m to make the facility work’.

‘The regulation, in effect, reached exactly the people who already had options and missed entirely those who did not,’ he says.

Banks ran into a deeper problem, too. Uganda’s pension laws protect member contributions from attachment, meaning lenders have no clean enforcement mechanism in the event of default.

‘There is nothing that gives comfort to bankers. With collateral they could not legally seize, lenders walked away. Uptake was negligible,’ Mugisha notes. The lesson here is that structural solutions that ignore the legal landscape and the actual asset levels of their intended beneficiaries will not work, however elegantly designed.

Patient capital

Another pool of capital could transform Uganda’s housing market, and it has been sitting largely on the sidelines.

Pension funds, Saccos, insurance companies, and asset managers collectively hold assets that are half the commercial banking system’s Shs61.3 trillion. NSSF alone manages over Shs26 trillion.

In Kenya, pension funds allocate up to 30 percent of their portfolios to real estate. In Uganda, the figure is under 5 percent.

The gap is about returns. A pension fund earning 12 to 15 percent on government bonds, with near-zero risk and minimal effort, has little incentive to take on the complexity of a housing development for a similar yield.

As Lutalo puts it, ‘the market has simply not brought them a product which is de-risked and makes business sense to them.’

A functioning mortgage refinancing framework changes that calculus. Lower risk makes housing more competitive as an asset class, which attracts institutional capital, which funds more mortgage lending and more development.

It is a virtuous cycle that the developed world has already taken advantage of.

Rent-to-own: A bridge or a bandage?

In the absence of a functioning mortgage market, NSSF has been developing a Rent-to-Own policy. A household moves into a unit and pays rent, a portion of which accumulates toward eventual ownership.

‘Your payments will be going towards the ownership of the home. There will be an effective interest rate, obviously, but the hope is that the effective interest rate will be less than the current mortgage rates,’ Rukaari says.

It is a genuinely innovative attempt to meet people where they are. However, Rukaari is also honest about its limits: ‘One hundred million is one hundred million. How you decide to finance one hundred million doesn’t change the fact that one hundred million is very expensive for so many people.’

Kasaato frames the challenge in regional terms, referencing a seminar at an International Social Security Association meeting in the Ivory Coast in 2024.

Sierra Leone, with a GDP per capita of just $521 (Shs1.9m), defines an affordable home at around $30,000, roughly Shs112m. Uganda is richer, yet its institutions have not yet built a product at that price point, let alone below it.

Demand that cannot yet speak

Uganda is urbanising at 5 percent annually, according to the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, one of the fastest rates in Africa.

Kampala and its satellite towns absorb hundreds of thousands of new residents every year.

The desire to own is not a middle-class aspiration, but a universal one. What is missing is the financial infrastructure to convert want into effective demand: the kind that developers can see, price against, and build for.

The Mortgage Refinancing Act, if properly operationalised and deliberately designed to reach beyond the already-bankable, is the single most important near-term intervention available.

Paired with serious engagement from pension funds and complemented by innovative products like rent-to-own, Uganda has the pieces of a solution.

What has been lacking is the will to assemble them in the right order, at the right speed, and the honesty, as Mugisha’s warning about capacity makes clear, to confront what a given tool cannot do.

Beyond this, there is also need to examine why fixing demand is necessary but not sufficient (we are working on an article).

Even if every Ugandan who needs a home could suddenly access affordable financing, there would still not be enough homes to buy.

The supply side of the housing crisis is, if anything, an even more complex problem.